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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2004, p. 1973-1981, Vol. 70, No. 4
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.4.1973-1981.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mycobacteria in Water and Loose Deposits of Drinking Water Distribution Systems in Finland

Eila Torvinen,1* Sini Suomalainen,2 Markku J. Lehtola,1 Ilkka T. Miettinen,1 Outi Zacheus,1 Lars Paulin,2 Marja-Leena Katila,3 and Pertti J. Martikainen1,{dagger}

Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, FIN-70701 Kuopio,1 Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki University,2 Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kuopio University Hospital, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland3

Received 17 October 2003/ Accepted 19 December 2003

Drinking water distribution systems were analyzed for viable counts of mycobacteria by sampling water from waterworks and in different parts of the systems. In addition, loose deposits collected during mechanical cleaning of the main pipelines were similarly analyzed. The study covered 16 systems at eight localities in Finland. In an experimental study, mycobacterial colonization of biofilms on polyvinyl chloride tubes in a system was studied. The isolation frequency of mycobacteria increased from 35% at the waterworks to 80% in the system, and the number of mycobacteria in the positive samples increased from 15 to 140 CFU/liter, respectively. Mycobacteria were isolated from all 11 deposits with an accumulation time of tens of years and from all 4 deposits which had accumulated during a 1-year follow-up time. The numbers of mycobacteria were high in both old and young deposits (medians, 1.8 x 105 and 3.9 x 105 CFU/g [dry weight], respectively). Both water and deposit samples yielded the highest numbers of mycobacteria in the systems using surface water and applying ozonation as an intermediate treatment or posttreatment. The number and growth of mycobacteria in system waters correlated strongly with the concentration of assimilable organic carbon in the water leaving the waterworks. The densities of mycobacteria in the developing biofilms were highest at the distal sites of the systems. Over 90% of the mycobacteria isolated from water and deposits belonged to Mycobacterium lentiflavum, M. tusciae, M. gordonae, and a previously unclassified group of mycobacteria. Our results indicate that drinking water systems may be a source for recently discovered new mycobacterial species.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 95, FIN-70701 Kuopio, Finland. Phone: 358 17 201375. Fax: 358 17 201155. E-mail: eila.torvinen{at}ktl.fi.

{dagger} Present address: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2004, p. 1973-1981, Vol. 70, No. 4
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.4.1973-1981.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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